put on the suit, let's go a few rounds

Continuation of this

Steve sees Tony get up and whisper something to the man he’s been conversing with all evening.

It shouldn’t bother Steve so much that Tony’s barely said three sentences to him since he’d arrived, but Tony’s a businessman first and foremost—he can’t help it so many people require most of his time and attention.

There was no need for Steve to feel annoyed or even remotely resentful that this man was taking up more of Tony’s time in particular or that Tony kept smiling and touching him, like they were more than just a friendly acquaintance.

And even if they were, Steve knows it’s not his place to say anything about it. Whoever Tony decides to date is Tony’s business, not Steve’s. So when they disappear out the door, Steve convinces himself that he’s only following them to make sure everything is okay. Tony is still his best friend after all.

But when he turns the corner, the sight before him springs all sorts of unpleasant, less noble feelings in Steve. Tony has his back pressed against the side of a car, his arms wrapped around the man’s back and shoulders, his nails digging into the fabric of the man’s coat like he was desperately trying to hold for dear life. The man dipped his face and caught Tony’s mouth for another kiss and Tony responded all too willingly—the sound of lips and tongue and Tony’s breathy moans making Steve feel sicker the longer he stood there.

For what feels like hours, Steve finally ducks away and walks slowly back into the building. He feels cold and empty, with a mixture of fire and ice all at once. A part of him wants to go back out there and rip Tony away from the man; the other part of him wants to push Tony against the nearest wall and kiss him. Steve isn’t sure which makes him feel more confused.

It’s not long before Tony returns, this time alone, but he has that look on his face that tells Steve everything he doesn’t want or need to know. But it’s there in Tony’s bruised lips, the flush on his cheeks and the rumple on his jacket. It’s a telling sign exactly where the man has been and touched. It makes Steve’s jaw clench tightly.

“Sorry,” says Tony as he sits next to Steve, “had to step out for a bit.”

Steve just nods and gives Tony his most convincing smile. “It’s alright,” he says. “I understand.”

Tony smiles and excuses himself again, only this time Steve doesn’t go after him. It’s not any of his business after all.